cycling question

[warlord239]

I have 20 lbs base rock 20lbs live sand and 20lbs live rock in my 45 gallon tank, its cycling with a piece of shrimp in it. If i dont use biospira how long do you think it will take to cycle?

[TheKman]

I asked a friend of mine this exact question cause he never used biospira, he told me that he let his shrimp bounce around for about 6-8 weeks.. But i'm not sure to be honest, i'm a rookie myself

[earthboy17]

3-6weeks?
Anything anyone says is a guess; test it! Keep track of numbers!

[Ron Reefman]

Every tank is different. It depends on so many variables like how much water, how much LR, how good is the LR, how much is the tank fed (too much is as bad as not enough).

Test the water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and write the numbers down. Start a computer spreadsheet and keep all of the numbers you test for. When ammonia and nitrites go to zero and nitrates stop going up, do a water change and your start up cycle is done. It should be 2-6 weeks.

But that isn't the end. After the cycle you will have some algae blooms and maybe even a bacteria bloom. These are normal and if you don't rush in sensative livestock and maintain good water quality, you'll be fine. New tanks get to be fairly mature in 6-12 months depending on what you start out with. More LR and a good fuge, faster to mature, less LR to start and no fuge, your tank will still mature, but it may take a bit longer.
Good luck.

[slickrick75150]

Every tank is different. It depends on so many variables like how much water, how much LR, how good is the LR, how much is the tank fed (too much is as bad as not enough).

Test the water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and write the numbers down. Start a computer spreadsheet and keep all of the numbers you test for. When ammonia and nitrites go to zero and nitrates stop going up, do a water change and your start up cycle is done. It should be 2-6 weeks.

But that isn't the end. After the cycle you will have some algae blooms and maybe even a bacteria bloom. These are normal and if you don't rush in sensative livestock and maintain good water quality, you'll be fine. New tanks get to be fairly mature in 6-12 months depending on what you start out with. More LR and a good fuge, faster to mature, less LR to start and no fuge, your tank will still mature, but it may take a bit longer.
Good luck.

I agree


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[warlord239]

Ok im gonna add bio spira just in case...after cycle i was going to add a clown and a small CUC

[MrTuskfish]

Ok im gonna add bio spira just in case...after cycle i was going to add a clown and a small CUC

A lot of these "Miracle-Gro" bacteria products can do more harm than good. Most genetically altered and can compete with the natural bacteria. Patienter is THE key to success in this hobby; lack of it almost ruined it for me, slow down. While the tank is cycling; read all you can and start a QT.

[medic155]

A lot of these "Miracle-Gro" bacteria products can do more harm than good. Most genetically altered and can compete with the natural bacteria. Patienter is THE key to success in this hobby; lack of it almost ruined it for me, slow down. While the tank is cycling; read all you can and start a QT.

+1 on the QT. You don't want that first clown to have ich or anything else and infest your DT with it.

[sponger0]

Every tank is different.

This statement describes so much. Is tank is different. Every piece of live rock isnt the same...between how pourous it is, what is living on it, how much dead stuff is on it to start the cycle and so on. With every type of chemistry involved question for this hobby, every tank is different.

A lot of these "Miracle-Gro" bacteria products can do more harm than good. Most genetically altered and can compete with the natural bacteria. Patienter is THE key to success in this hobby; lack of it almost ruined it for me, slow down. While the tank is cycling; read all you can and start a QT.

I also agree with this. Nature is much better than anything a manufacturer can throw into a bottle.